Gary Rowett

Sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry. When Gary Rowett’s Birmingham City struggled to impose their desired approach on Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrew’s in September 2016 he saw Gary Hooper’s goal give the visitors the lead. Sir Alex Ferguson had once required late substitutions to rescue Manchester United from defeat by Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final. Six years later on the same occasion Liverpool and Rafa Benítez required substitutions and a new formation to inspire their comeback against AC Milan.

At 1-0 down with 10 minutes remaining, Rowett made changes that involved a risk that ultimately delivered when City's substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz scored their winning goal in stoppage time. Speaking exclusively to The Coaches’ Voice, Rowett revisits that risk, why it was first considered, and why it worked.

Starting line-ups

Birmingham CitySheffield Wednesday

135282386191426911615129335417645

Birmingham City4-2-3-1

Sheffield Wednesday4-4-2

1Adam Legzdins

1Keiren Westwood

23Jonathan Spector

16Liam Palmer

28Michael Morrison

15Tom Lees

5Ryan Shotton

12Glenn Loovens

3Jonathan Grounds

9Adam Reach

6Maikel Kieftenbeld

5Kieran Lee

8Stephen Gleeson

41Barry Bannan

26David Davis

33Ross Wallace

14Che Adams

7Almen Abdi

19Jacques Maghoma

6Steven Fletcher

9Clayton Donaldson

45Fernando Forestieri

Author: Tony Hodson